JP6136475B2 - Fuel cell and oxygen concentration measuring device using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel battery cell and an oxygen concentration measuring apparatus using the same, and in particular, a fluorescent paint is applied to a measurement target region, and fluorescence is generated by irradiating the fluorescent paint surface with excitation light. The present invention relates to an oxygen concentration measurement apparatus that measures the oxygen concentration distribution in a measurement target region by photographing the image of

In recent years, global environmental problems have been greatly highlighted. Fuel cells such as polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) not only have high energy conversion efficiency, but also contribute to reducing CO ₂ emissions, It is a clean battery that emits almost no NOx, SOx, dust, etc. that cause air pollution. Furthermore, there is an advantage that silence is also high. Therefore, some fuel cells are being put into practical use as an energy conversion device that is optimal for the 21st century. In particular, among fuel cells, PEFC has an advantage that it can be downsized because of its low operating temperature and high output density.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a general polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
The polymer electrolyte fuel cell S has a configuration (membrane electrode assembly) sandwiched between an oxygen electrode 102 and a hydrogen electrode 103 with a polymer solid electrolyte membrane 101 as a center. The polymer solid electrolyte membrane 101 is, for example, an ion exchange membrane obtained by applying a slurry containing a polymer solid electrolyte on a carbon fiber porous cloth substrate and then baking the slurry. The outside of the oxygen electrode 102 is carried on the current collector 106, and the outside of the hydrogen electrode 103 is carried on the current collector 107.

  The outer peripheral edge of the oxygen electrode 102 is in contact with the inner side of the frame-shaped gasket 104, and the outer peripheral edge of the gasket 104 is a protruding peripheral edge on the inner side of the oxygen electrode-side separator plate 108 having a plurality of recesses inside. In contact. Thus, a plurality of oxygen electrode chambers (oxygen introduction spaces) 109 are formed between the inside of the oxygen electrode side separator plate 108 and the outside of the oxygen electrode 102 so as to correspond to the plurality of recesses. The oxygen electrode side separator plate 108 is connected to the oxygen electrode chamber 109 so as to penetrate the inner side and the outer side, and to the oxygen electrode chamber 109 so as to penetrate the inner side and the outer side. A reactive oxygen gas and product water outlet 113.

  On the other hand, the outer peripheral edge of the hydrogen electrode 103 is in contact with the inner side of the frame-shaped gasket 105, and the outer peripheral edge of the gasket 105 is a protruding peripheral edge on the inner side of the hydrogen electrode-side separator plate 110 having a plurality of recesses on the inner side. The parts are in contact. Thus, a plurality of hydrogen electrode chambers (hydrogen introduction spaces) 111 are formed between the inside of the hydrogen electrode side separator plate 110 and the outside of the hydrogen electrode 103 so as to correspond to the plurality of recesses. The hydrogen electrode side separator plate 110 has a hydrogen gas supply port 114 connected to the hydrogen electrode chamber 111 so as to penetrate the inner side and the outer side, and an unconnected portion connected to the hydrogen electrode chamber 111 so as to penetrate the inner side and the outer side. And a reactive hydrogen gas outlet 115.

  Next, the operation of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S will be described. When hydrogen flows through the plurality of hydrogen electrode chambers 111 in order from the hydrogen gas supply port 114 and oxygen flows through the plurality of oxygen electrode chambers 109 in turn from the oxygen gas supply port 112, hydrogen is converted into hydrogen ions by the hydrogen electrode 103. Separated into electrons. Hydrogen ions generated at the hydrogen electrode 103 selectively permeate the polymer solid electrolyte membrane 101. The permeated hydrogen ions react with oxygen at the oxygen electrode 102 to become water. At this time, electrons generated at the hydrogen electrode 103 flow from the hydrogen electrode 103 toward the oxygen electrode 102 through an external load (not shown). That is, current flows to the external load.

  By the way, in order to spread the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S, it is necessary to solve various technical problems including cost. For example, since the polymer performance of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S deteriorates with the passage of operating time, the battery life associated with the deterioration is an important issue. In order to solve such a technical problem, how oxygen flows from the oxygen gas supply port 112 to the plurality of oxygen electrode chambers 109 and how it reacts in the plurality of oxygen electrode chambers 109 is determined. It is necessary to analyze.

  Therefore, an oxygen concentration measurement method for measuring the oxygen concentration distribution of the plurality of oxygen electrode chambers 109 is disclosed. In such an oxygen concentration measurement method, the oxygen electrode side separator plate 108 is formed of a transparent material (light transmissive material) as a light transmission portion, and a ruthenium complex paint (fluorescent paint) is disposed inside the oxygen electrode side separator plate 108. The simulated fuel battery cell S is prepared by applying a spray using a brush or a brush. Then, the fluorescent paint surface is irradiated with excitation light (wavelength 470 nm) to generate fluorescence (about 600 nm), and this fluorescence intensity distribution is photographed. At this time, the fluorescent paint surface generates fluorescence by excitation light, but the fluorescence is quenched by oxygen at a location where the oxygen concentration is high. Thereby, the oxygen concentration distribution of the plurality of oxygen electrode chambers 109 can be measured based on the photographed fluorescence intensity distribution.

In addition, fluorescent paints such as ruthenium complex paints have been known to change the intensity of generated fluorescence depending on the temperature. Therefore, oxygen concentration measuring devices that can obtain oxygen concentration distributions without the influence of temperature have been developed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of such an oxygen concentration measuring apparatus. One direction horizontal to the ground is defined as an X direction, a direction horizontal to the ground and perpendicular to the X direction is defined as a Y direction, and a direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction is defined as a Z direction.
The oxygen concentration measuring device 51 includes a shared unit 121, a temperature measuring unit 122 having a temperature measuring infrared detector 31, an oxygen concentration measuring unit 123 having an oxygen detecting fluorescence detector 36, an oxygen concentration calculating unit 134, And an arrangement unit 40 in which the simulated fuel cells S are arranged.

The shared unit 121 includes a first beam splitter 124, a second beam splitter 125, and the light source unit 10. The light source unit 10 is a laser light source (laser diode) that emits laser light (wavelength 470 nm), for example. The first beam splitter 124 transmits infrared light having a wavelength of 5000 nm or more and reflects laser light or fluorescence having a wavelength of less than 5000 nm. The second beam splitter 125 reflects fluorescence having a wavelength of less than 500 nm and transmits laser light having a wavelength of 500 nm or more.
With such a configuration, the laser light emitted from the light source unit 10 is applied to the measurement target region of the arrangement unit 40. Then, the fluorescence generated in the measurement target region of the placement unit 40 is reflected by the first beam splitter 124 and the second beam splitter 125 and guided to the oxygen detection fluorescence detector 36, and infrared light. Is guided to the infrared detector 31 for temperature measurement.

The oxygen detection fluorescence detector 36 is, for example, a high-speed camera (imaging device). In such a high-speed photographing camera, a plurality of photodetecting elements _Gmn are arranged in M rows (for example, 1000 rows) and N columns (for example, 1000 columns), and each photodetecting element _Gmn has a respective one. The fluorescence of an intensity value (for example, 10 bits) I _mn corresponding to the position is made incident. Therefore, the output signal of each light detection element G _mn represents the fluorescence intensity value I _mn at each position of the measurement target region of the placement unit 40. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a fluorescence intensity distribution image made up of pixels of N rows and M columns.

The temperature measurement infrared detector 31 is, for example, a high-speed photographing camera (imaging device). In such a high-speed photographing camera, a plurality of photodetecting elements _Gmn are arranged in M rows (for example, 1000 rows) and N columns (for example, 1000 columns), and each photodetecting element _Gmn has a respective one. Infrared light having an intensity value (for example, 10 bits) T _mn corresponding to the position is made incident. Therefore, the output signal of each light detection element G _mn represents the infrared light intensity value T _mn for each position of the measurement target region of the placement unit 40.

And intensity values I _mn of each pixel G _mn in such imaging fluorescence intensity distribution image with an oxygen-detecting fluorescent detector 36, for each pixel G _mn in the captured temperature distribution image at a temperature measurement infrared detector 31 The intensity value T _mn is sent to the oxygen concentration calculation module 161. Then, the oxygen concentration calculation module 161 removes the influence of the temperature T by using the temperature fluorescence amount correction table 62 indicating the relationship between the temperature value T, the fluorescence intensity value I, and the oxygen partial pressure value D stored in a memory or the like. calculating the value of the partial pressure of oxygen _{D mn} of each pixel _{G mn} which respectively, are creating a corrected oxygen concentration image comprising pixels _{G mn} of M rows (e.g. 1000 lines) N columns (for example, 1000 columns). FIG. 8 shows experimental data of “temperature dependence of light emission amount” of platinum porphyrin.

By the way, in the oxygen concentration measuring device 51, the measurement area photographed by the temperature measurement infrared detector 31 and the measurement area photographed by the oxygen detection fluorescence detector 36 are not always coincident. Therefore, in order to obtain a corrected oxygen concentration image composed of pixels G _mn of M rows and N columns, each pixel G _mn of the temperature distribution image photographed by the temperature measurement infrared detector 31 and fluorescence detection for oxygen detection It is necessary to match each pixel _Gmn of the fluorescence intensity distribution image photographed by the device 36, and each of the temperature measurement infrared detector 31 and the oxygen detection fluorescence detector 36 is moved in the XY plane. Stage mechanisms 133 and 138 are provided. Using such stage mechanisms 133 and 138, the measurer observes the temperature distribution image and the fluorescence intensity distribution image displayed on the monitor or the like, and each pixel G _mn of the temperature distribution image and the fluorescence intensity distribution image. It is necessary to make adjustments so that each pixel _Gmn matches.

JP 2012-151014 A

However, in the oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 51 as described above, temperature information can be obtained with high resolution (M rows and N columns), but a total of two units of the infrared detector 31 for temperature measurement and the fluorescence detector 36 for oxygen detection are used. Since a high-speed photographing camera (imaging device) is used, the number of components increases, and there is a problem that the cost of the device increases. Moreover, the use of the two high-speed imaging camera, there problem that it takes time to adjust to match the pixels G _mn of each pixel G _mn and the fluorescence intensity distribution image of the temperature distribution image.

Further, in the temperature distribution image taken by the temperature measurement infrared detector 31, temperature information on the surface of the simulated fuel cell S is obtained, and the temperature information inside the oxygen electrode chamber 109 of the thick simulated fuel cell S is obtained. Sometimes it was not possible. Further, in the simulated fuel cell S made of a material having a mirror surface or low reflectance, accurate temperature information may not be obtained.
Therefore, the present invention provides a fuel cell capable of accurately obtaining a corrected oxygen concentration distribution excluding the influence of temperature in various types of inspection objects having a simple structure and having a thickness, and the use thereof An object of the present invention is to provide an oxygen concentration measuring apparatus.

The fuel battery cell of the present invention made to solve the above problems is a membrane electrode assembly having a structure in which a polymer solid electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between an oxygen electrode and a hydrogen electrode, and is fixed to the outside of the oxygen electrode. An oxygen electrode side separator plate in which an oxygen introduction space is formed, and a hydrogen electrode side separator plate fixed outside the hydrogen electrode and in which a hydrogen introduction space is formed, the oxygen electrode side separator plate and / or The hydrogen electrode side separator plate is provided with a light transmitting portion made of a light transmissive material, and the oxygen electrode side separator plate and / or the hydrogen electrode side separator plate is coated with a fluorescent paint having oxygen quenching properties. a fuel cell, together with the oxygen introduction space and / or a plurality of temperature sensors in a first plane in the measurement target region of the hydrogen introduction space is disposed, the measurement target area The second plurality of temperature sensors in the plane of the first plane and the different depths of the definitive is so disposed.

  Here, as the “fluorescent paint having oxygen quenching properties”, for example, a polymer material having oxygen permeability such as polystyrene is used as a binder, and the dye reacts with ultraviolet to blue excitation light such as platinum porphyrin or ruthenium. And the like using a material that emits light and has an oxygen quenching property.

As described above, according to the fuel cell of the present invention, since a plurality of temperature sensors are arranged in the oxygen introduction space and the hydrogen introduction space of the fuel cell, in various types such as a thick one. Also, it is possible to accurately detect a temperature value at a desired depth (position). Further, it is not necessary to make an adjustment to match each pixel G _{mn of} the temperature distribution image with each pixel G _mn of the fluorescence intensity distribution image. Furthermore, since one camera (imaging device) that detects fluorescence is disposed, it contributes to cost reduction.

(Means and effects for solving other problems)
In the above invention, the temperature sensor may be a thermocouple or a resistance temperature detector.

Further, in the above invention, a plurality of temperature sensors in a first plane in the measurement target region is so disposed.
According to the fuel battery cell of the present invention, a temperature distribution image corresponding to the fluorescence intensity distribution image can be created by executing a linear interpolation method, a method with weighting, or the like.

Further, in the above invention, the second plurality of temperature sensors in the plane of the first plane different from the depth of the measurement target region is so disposed.
According to the fuel battery cell of the present invention, a temperature distribution image at a desired depth can be created by executing a linear interpolation method, a method with weighting, or the like.

  And the oxygen concentration measuring device of the present invention was applied to the measurement target region via the light transmission part in the fuel cell as described above, and the light source unit having a light source that irradiates excitation light, and the measurement target region. Based on the fluorescence intensity distribution image, an oxygen concentration distribution in the measurement target region is obtained based on the imaging unit having an imaging device that acquires fluorescence intensity distribution images of the fluorescent paint surface by detecting fluorescence from the fluorescent paint surface. An oxygen concentration measuring device including a control unit that measures, based on temperature values detected by a plurality of temperature sensors, each pixel in the fluorescence intensity distribution image or each position in the oxygen concentration distribution It is also possible to create a corrected oxygen concentration distribution in which the temperature value is calculated by removing the influence of temperature.

The schematic block diagram which shows an example of the oxygen concentration measuring device which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing which shows an example of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell which concerns on this invention. The figure explaining the arrangement position of the thermocouple in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The figure which shows the fluorescence intensity distribution image which consists of a pixel of N rows and M columns. The flowchart explaining the measuring method of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Sectional drawing which shows an example of a general polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The schematic block diagram which shows an example of the conventional oxygen concentration measuring apparatus. The figure which shows the experimental data of the temperature dependence of the emitted light amount of platinum porphyrin.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and it goes without saying that various aspects are included without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an oxygen concentration measuring apparatus according to the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the thing similar to the conventional oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 51 mentioned above.
The oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 1 includes a shared unit 21, an oxygen concentration measuring unit 23 having an oxygen detection fluorescence detector 36, an oxygen concentration calculating unit 34, and an arrangement portion in which the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′ is disposed. 40. That is, the oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 1 according to the present invention does not include the temperature measuring unit 122.

First, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′ used in the oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the thing similar to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S mentioned above.
From the left side of FIG. 2, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′ includes a hydrogen electrode side separator plate 110, a current collector 107 and a gasket 105, an oxygen electrode 102, a polymer solid electrolyte membrane 101, and a hydrogen electrode 103. A current collector 106 and a gasket 104, and an oxygen electrode side separator plate 108 in this order.

  A plurality of hydrogen electrode chambers 111 are formed between the inside of the hydrogen electrode side separator plate 110 and the outside of the hydrogen electrode 103. The hydrogen electrode side separator plate 110 has a hydrogen gas supply port 114 connected to the hydrogen electrode chamber 111 so as to penetrate the inner side and the outer side, and an unconnected portion connected to the hydrogen electrode chamber 111 so as to penetrate the inner side and the outer side. And a reactive hydrogen gas outlet 115.

  A plurality of oxygen electrode chambers 109 are formed between the inside of the oxygen electrode side separator plate 108 and the outside of the oxygen electrode 102. The oxygen electrode side separator plate 108 is connected to the oxygen electrode chamber 109 so as to penetrate the inner side and the outer side, and to the oxygen electrode chamber 109 so as to penetrate the inner side and the outer side. A reactive oxygen gas and product water outlet 113.

Then, 24 through holes are formed in the outer peripheral side wall of the oxygen electrode separator plate 108 so as to communicate the inside and the outside of the oxygen electrode chamber 109 in the horizontal direction (X direction or Y direction). Specifically, when viewed from the Z direction, the first through hole, the ninth through hole, and the seventeenth through hole are formed in the X direction at the upper right portion, and the second through hole and the first through hole are formed. The tenth through hole and the eighteenth through hole are formed in the X direction at the right middle portion, and the third through hole, the eleventh through hole, and the nineteenth through hole are formed in the X direction at the lower right portion. The fourth through-hole, the twelfth through-hole, and the twentieth through-hole are formed in the Y direction at the lower center, and the fifth through-hole, the thirteenth through-hole, and the twenty-first through-hole are formed. The through-hole is formed in the X direction at the lower left part, and the sixth through-hole, the fourteenth through-hole, and the twelfth through-hole are formed in the X direction at the left middle part. The through-hole, the fifteenth through-hole, and the thirteenth through-hole are formed in the X direction at the upper left, and the eighth through-hole, the sixteenth through-hole, and the twenty-fourth through-hole are the center. Y at the top It is formed in the direction.
Further, when viewed from the Y direction, the first through eighth through holes are formed near the upper surface of the inner peripheral surface of the oxygen electrode chamber 109, and the ninth through sixteenth through holes are The 17th through 24th through holes are formed in the vicinity of the lower surface of the inner peripheral surface of the oxygen electrode chamber 109.

Thermocouples (temperature acquisition mechanisms) 116 are inserted into the 24 through holes, respectively. FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the arrangement position of the thermocouple 116 in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper right pixel G _mn , the right middle pixel G _mn , the lower right pixel G _mn , the lower center pixel G _mn , the lower left pixel G _mn, and the left middle pixel of the fluorescence intensity distribution image temperature value T ₁ through T ₂₄ at the position of pixel G _mn upper left portion of the pixel G _mn and the top center pixel G _mn and a depth of 3 stages at eight locations corresponding is adapted to be detected . The detected temperature values T _{1 to} T ₂₄ are sent to the oxygen concentration calculation unit 34 at a set time interval Δt ₁ (for example, every 1 second).

Next, the oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 1 for measuring the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′ will be described in detail.
The shared unit 21 includes the beam splitter 25 and the light source unit 10. The light source unit 10 is a laser light source (laser diode) that emits laser light (wavelength 470 nm), for example. The beam splitter 25 transmits fluorescence having a wavelength of less than 500 and reflects laser light having a wavelength of 500 nm or more. Thereby, the laser beam emitted from the light source unit 10 is irradiated to the measurement target region of the arrangement unit 40. The fluorescence generated in the measurement target region of the placement unit 30 is guided to the oxygen detection fluorescence detector 36.

The oxygen detection fluorescence detector 36 is, for example, a high-speed photographing camera (imaging device). In such a high-speed photographing camera, a plurality of photodetecting elements _Gmn are arranged in M rows (for example, 1000 rows) and N columns (for example, 1000 columns), and each photodetecting element _Gmn has a respective one. The fluorescence of an intensity value (for example, 10 bits) I _mn corresponding to the position is made incident. Therefore, the output signal of each light detection element G _mn represents the fluorescence intensity value I _mn at each position of the measurement target region of the placement unit 40. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a fluorescence intensity distribution image made up of pixels of N rows and M columns.
When a measurement condition (a set exposure time Δt ₂ (for example, 0.5 second) or a set time interval Δt ₃ (for example, a 0.5 second interval)) is input by an input device or the like, oxygen detection is performed based on the measurement condition. The fluorescence intensity distribution image is sent from the fluorescence detector 36 to the oxygen concentration calculation unit 34.

The temperature interpolation module (temperature data interpolation mechanism) 63 executes a method such as linear interpolation or weighting using the temperature values T _{1 to} T ₈ , and M rows (for example, 1000 rows) corresponding to the fluorescence intensity distribution image. An upper surface temperature distribution image composed of N columns (for example, 1000 columns) of pixels G _mn is created, or linear interpolation or weighting is used using the temperature values T _{9 to} T ₁₆ to execute M rows (for example, 1000 rows) An internal temperature distribution image composed of N columns (for example, 1000 columns) of pixels G _mn is created, or linear interpolation or weighting is used using temperature values T _{17 to} T _24. A bottom surface temperature distribution image composed of pixels (for example, 1000 rows) and N columns (for example, 1000 columns) G _mn is created, or temperature values at three levels are averaged using temperature values T _{1 to} T ₂₄ . Later, linear interpolation Run a method in which in consideration of the weights, or to create an average temperature distribution image comprising pixels _{G mn} of M rows (e.g. 1000 lines) N columns (for example, 1000 columns). Then, the upper surface temperature distribution image, the internal temperature distribution image, the lower surface temperature distribution image, and the average temperature distribution image are sent to the oxygen concentration calculation module 61 in real time.

The oxygen concentration calculation module 61 uses a temperature fluorescence amount correction table 62 indicating the relationship among the temperature value T, the fluorescence intensity value I, and the oxygen partial pressure value D stored in a memory or the like, and uses a desired temperature value T (for example, fuel). calculating the value of the partial pressure of oxygen D _mn of each pixel G _mn was a cell operating temperature of 80 ° C.), respectively, on the basis of the color table that associates an oxygen partial pressure D _mn stored in a memory or the like in color, desired An upper surface correction oxygen concentration image, an internal correction oxygen concentration image, a lower surface correction oxygen concentration image, and an average oxygen concentration image composed of pixels _Gmn of M rows (for example, 1000 rows) and N columns (for example, 1000 columns) at the temperature value T are created. When a display condition (“display of internal correction oxygen concentration image”) is input using an input device or the like, the internal correction oxygen concentration image is displayed on a monitor or the like in real time based on the display condition.

Here, the usage method of the oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 1 which concerns on this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a measurement method for measuring the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′.
First, in the process of step S101, the measurer places the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′ on the arrangement unit 40 and operates the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′.
Next, in the process of step S102, the measurer uses the input device or the like to measure the measurement conditions (set exposure time Δt ₂ (eg, 0.5 seconds), set time interval Δt ₃ (eg, 0.5 seconds interval), etc.). And display conditions ("display of internal corrected oxygen concentration image").

Next, in the process of step S103, and updates the time _{t n} to the time t _{n + 1.}
Next, in the process of step S104, the oxygen concentration calculation module 61 acquires a fluorescence intensity distribution image at time t _n from the oxygen detector fluorescence detector 36.

On the other hand, in the process of step S105, the temperature interpolation module 63 acquires the temperature values T _{1 to} T ₂₄ at time t _n from the 24 thermocouples 116.
Next, the internal in the process of step S106, the temperature interpolation module 63 is composed of a pixel _{G mn} temperature value _T 9 _{through T 16} M rows times _{t n} using (e.g. 1000 lines) N columns (for example, 1000 columns) Create a temperature distribution image.

Next, in the process of step S107, the oxygen concentration calculating module 61 uses a fluorescence intensity distribution image of time t _n, and the internal temperature distribution image of time t _n, and a temperature fluorescence amount correction table 62, the desired temperature An oxygen partial pressure value D _mn of each pixel G _mn with a value T (for example, fuel cell operating temperature 80 ° C.) is calculated.
Next, in the process of step S108, the oxygen concentration calculation module 61 performs internal correction including M rows (for example, 1000 rows) and N columns (for example, 1000 columns) of pixels _{Gmn at} a desired temperature value T based on the color table. Create and display an oxygen concentration image.

Next, in the process of step S109, the measurer determines whether or not to end the measurement. When it is determined that the measurement is continued, the process returns to step S103. That is, the processes in steps S104 to S108 are repeated.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the measurement is finished, this flowchart is finished.

As described above, according to the oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 1, since the twenty-four thermocouples 116 are arranged inside the oxygen electrode chamber 109 of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell S ′, the temperature values T _{1 to} T ₂₄ can be accurately detected. Then, eight thermocouples 116 are arranged in the first plane inside the oxygen electrode chamber 109, and eight thermocouples 116 are arranged in the second plane inside the oxygen electrode chamber 109, and the oxygen electrode Since eight thermocouples 116 are arranged in the third plane inside the chamber 109, a temperature distribution image at three levels corresponding to the fluorescence intensity distribution image can be created. As a result, an internally corrected oxygen concentration image composed of M rows (for example, 1000 rows) and N columns (for example, 1000 columns) pixels G _mn at a desired temperature value T (for example, fuel cell operating temperature 80 ° C.) at a desired depth is evaluated. can do.

<Other embodiments>
(1) In the oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 1 described above, the temperature values T _{1 to} T ₂₄ at three positions of depth are detected at eight locations in the fluorescence intensity distribution image. You may comprise so that the temperature value in the position of arbitrary numbers of depths, such as two steps, may be detected by arbitrary numbers, such as ten places. In addition, although the temperature values T _{1 to} T _{24 of} the oxygen electrode chamber 109 are detected, the temperature value of the hydrogen electrode chamber may be detected.

(2) In the above-described oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 1, the internal correction oxygen concentration image is created and displayed. However, the internal correction oxygen concentration image, the upper surface correction oxygen concentration image, the lower surface correction oxygen concentration image, and the average correction oxygen concentration are used. An image may be created and displayed.

  The present invention measures the oxygen concentration distribution in the measurement target area by applying fluorescent paint to the measurement target area, generating fluorescence by irradiating the fluorescent paint surface with excitation light, and photographing the fluorescence intensity distribution. It can be used for an oxygen concentration measuring device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Oxygen concentration measuring apparatus 101 Polymer solid electrolyte membrane 102 Oxygen electrode 103 Hydrogen electrode 108 Oxygen electrode side separator plate 109 Oxygen chamber (oxygen introduction space)
110 Hydrogen electrode side separator plate 111 Hydrogen chamber (hydrogen introduction space)
116 Thermocouple (Temperature sensor)
S 'Fuel cell

Claims (3)

A membrane electrode assembly having a configuration in which a polymer solid electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between an oxygen electrode and a hydrogen electrode,
An oxygen electrode-side separator plate fixed outside the oxygen electrode and forming an oxygen introduction space;
A hydrogen electrode-side separator plate fixed to the outside of the hydrogen electrode and forming a hydrogen introduction space;
The oxygen electrode side separator plate and / or the hydrogen electrode side separator plate is provided with a light transmission part made of a light transmissive material, and the oxygen electrode side separator plate and / or the hydrogen electrode side separator plate is provided with an oxygen quenching. A fuel cell to which a fluorescent paint having a property is applied,
A plurality of temperature sensors are arranged in a first plane in the measurement target region of the oxygen introduction space and / or the hydrogen introduction space , and a second depth is different from that of the first plane in the measurement target region. A fuel cell comprising a plurality of temperature sensors arranged in a plane .   The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermocouple or a resistance temperature detector. A light source unit having a light source that irradiates the measurement target region with excitation light through the light transmission unit in the fuel cell according to claim 1 ;
An imaging unit having an imaging device for acquiring a fluorescence intensity distribution image of the fluorescent paint surface by detecting fluorescence from the fluorescent paint surface applied to the measurement target region;
An oxygen concentration measurement device comprising a control unit for measuring an oxygen concentration distribution of the measurement target region based on the fluorescence intensity distribution image,
The control unit calculates a temperature value at each pixel in the fluorescence intensity distribution image or at each position in the oxygen concentration distribution based on temperature values detected by a plurality of temperature sensors, and correction in which the influence due to temperature is removed An oxygen concentration measurement device that creates an oxygen concentration distribution.